As a Florida fisherman the BB cricket is a staple here. Two of the three double digit bass I have caught were on a cricket in February so I think at least when your here you should give it another chance sir.
No one really make these videos that I’ve seen. I love this content! Gear is expensive as it is and no angler likes to waste money. Excellent content Matt!
I watched the video immediately after seeing the BB Cricket in the thumbnail. 😂😂 I knew there would be an uproar about that one. I know it’s a florida tradition and go to bait down there but I’ve just never personally had the luck on it that others have had. It does get through the mats very well though. I enjoyed the video, I’d be glad to see videos like this from time to time.
I've been accumulating lures for 50 years. I started giving duplicate lures to the local high school team and my two sons this winter. You have more lures on your wall than my local bait shop. I decided to reduce my inventory to about 30 different baits with a variety of 5 colors. If I can't catch fish with about 150 lures to choose from, then I need to find a new hobby. Thank you for another good video. Good luck at Rayburn.
Love this, and keep it going. It’s refreshing and honest to hear that some lures suck. Tired of watching all the “must have lure” videos 😂. Thank you, Matt!
This topic reminds me of what Zell Roland told me. I'll never forget him saying 90% of the lures are for the fisherman...only 10% catch the fish. 3 magic letters (NEW) have put more lures in my tackle box than have put fish in the boat. Thanks Matt for helping me put more fish in the boat!
You always put on genuine disclaimers, I like that. Maybe you done it, but that BB cricket looks like it would be a good ned bait. Perhaps when it's propper cold and the fish seen stickbaits all day long. :)
I have a bunch of crickets and crawdaddys. My favorite color is blue shadow. I pitch them with lighter weights on the California Delta with success, but I'm not sure that I would have one tied on during a tournament. John Crews won a Delta tournament in the 80s using a BB cricket.
As a previous Florida resident now in Wi, I like have caught tons of bass on the bb cricket and big ones! Gambler big ez has won me several tournaments down there and giants on the big O. Up here I’ve caught big smallies in em as well as largies. Don’t count the big ez out either. But with so many bait options now a days it’s sometimes hard to pick
Dude the BB cricket is my absolute go-to. Specially set up one way, #50 braind/3-0 hook/ and a 1oz weight. The profile/line/weight combination gets through THICK stuff significantly better than you would think I also believe the smaller profile gets more bites. If I ever HAVE to use a bigger weight I switch completely to a pitboss and bigger line. I live on Santee Cooper for reference
The great lakes juvy craw. I've heard of so many people catching smallies like crazy on them. I have not. The one day I switched from that to a similar size bottom bait fished in a similar manner and started catching
I fish the BB Cricket in northern Wisconsin and have had success on them. There is definitely A time and place for them but I typically fish other baits that have more action until I find the fish aren't wanting the action. I'm over in the fox valley and will come pick up the ones you don't want.
Thanks Matt. Don't remember the brand but years ago bought some flipping jigs with a wire that had a spinnerbait blade attached. Never got a bite that I recall. The Live Pointer didn't work for me either. 👍👍👍
Solid explanations. All made sense to me. Glad you are willing to put yourself out there amid the possible criticism. I respect honesty and transparency.
The gambler big EZ worked well for me in the northeast. I do like that swimbait. That being said though I find myself using the xzone swammer and RI dippers more. ….. baits that didn’t work for me, googan revolver, damiki armor shads, and the raid battle hog.
Hey Matt, I have a ton of experience with Big Ez swimbaits. They are great baits. After losing many fish with them and trying a bunch of hooks, I have found the best hooks to be the Trokar Mag Swimbait hooks. Tk160. The 5/0 for the 4.25 Big Ez and the 5/0 or 7/0 for the original Big Ez. These hooks are worth the price.
Thanks man. It is what it is. Let em get mad. Love powerbait and I like keitech easy shiner on a dirty guppy head. Still the best finesse jig head I can find.
Agree 100% with you on live pointer series from JB to the trap. Also add the Razor minnow to the list, the day on the lake article moved some dead inventory that month 😁
I’m in Florida and I know a lot of guys, especially Mikey Balzz love a BB cricket. I’ve never caught a fish on one. I seem to do better with a beaver style bait. Big EZ is a stable in my arsenal. Get Gamblers 7/0 weighted hook use a smaller twist lock. You burn through more baits but it rips out of the nose and gives you better hook ups. Sadly there is no more grass on Okeechobee to throw it over
They are finally making an effort to revive it. Scott Martin’s group Anglers for Lake Okeechobee and others have pushed to get the water down to allow grass to grow I only started fishing there in 2021 and it’s criminal what they have done since then
I have the same problem. I see alot of tackle that really looks good in theory, then in the water just junk. Unfortunately so many companies do that. Put out something that really looks good in the package, but then in the water just don't cut it. I too have alot of tackle that sits and collects dust as well. Unfortunately.
BB Cricket is an unbelievable punching bait. Very situational. It will get bit in cold front situations or when there is a ton of pressure on the lake and everyone else is punching a beaver style bait.
JIGS *drops the mic, i love the the design but man... maybe because my lake is 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 on the bottom, and on the rocky rivers i got that thing stuck even in the water itself.
Brings to mind a bait that used to perplex me. That is a Rat-L-Trap. I remember a tournament I fished where I caught most of my limit with a red one. But I lost as many or more as I landed. They picked it up and then used the weight of the bait on the split ring attached hooks to throw it. It was frustrating. It catches fish but it loses a lot also.
Matt, have you tried removing the blade and just trying the jig with the funnel and seeing what it would do? All I know is last year my smallest smallmouth on a chatterbait was bigger than any previous year with over a decade of not even getting a fish on 1 and now it's one of my confidence baits. Thanks for doing this stuff.
Matt, I have had good success with the Cricket fished on a C-rig, post spawn period. The past two years have not been good for a C-rig on my lakes. That's bass fishing. I have not fished the Cricket any other way. NE KS, NW MO area
The 6th Sense Axis. I've caught fish on the 13 Fishing Jabber Jaw. The Axis on the other hand always blows out at anything over a turtles speed retrieve.
With that vibrating jig can you trim the collar down to make it work better...maybe leave a lip on the bottom or small lips on each side something like that
Big Ez catches giants but most people won't fish it fast enough so it gurgles on top. Try the Berkley 7/0 swimbait hook with a big owner twist lock and your hook ups should increase, 65 lb braid and don't fear the heavy braid they will eat it in crystal clear water down here in Florida
All gambler lures kill it in south FL. For whatever reason they just work. Big ez on 5/0 weighted swim bait hook, really helped my hook up ratio. One bait people overlook is the strike king rage tail craw in the blue bug color. Texas rigged on a 1/8oz. I live in okeechobee
Worst junk I ever tied on was a lipless crankbait that I bought in East Texas back in the mid-90's. I dont remember the maker of it but I think it was called a Whistling Dixie. It looked like a RatLTrap but it had two little channels cut in the nose that was suppose to funnel the water through the nose and out the belly causing a whistling sound. Think I bought 3 of them and all 3 would not even stay upright. They kept rolling from one side to the other and never could get that classic lipless crankbait vibration going even for a short distance.
I fish 99% for speckle trout in louisiana. Its either 3"-4" swimbait, a soft jerkbait, hard jerkbait or twitchbait. 1/4" -3/8" jighead. If you find the trout. They eat. I have 2 hard plastic boxes for all my baits pretty simple.
Great video boss! Megabass sleeper craw is junk for me, too big. The recent Great Lakes finesse craw a no go as of now haven’t had a bite. The craw or the craw tube and put time in the three rivers with them. It’s dink fest here they should eat it. Many others also
A fail for me was anything from Snag Proof that wasn’t a frog. Last thing I got from them was the flipping jigs that used the double frog hook and had double weed guards.
Yep and he’s sponsored by them and he’ll probably make another video soon fishing it because I did this video. I’d like to know if he fishes them in tournaments that’s how you know what works. It’s just my opinion and i feel like there are better options
I’m surprised by the ez swimmer pick. Have you thrown it on a jig head? Either that or on a swim jig are the two best ways to throw it I agree that it has a harder hookup when it’s Texas rigged, but that is an issue for a lot of paddle tail swimbaits. I’m also surprised you didn’t mention that the swim worm wasn’t a staple for you in its stead.
Matt: Any honest fisherman will tell you they have a number of lures that can catch Suckers (the purchaser) but don’t catch fish. I just went through mine. Opps! They all look good at the retailers. That’s why we have so many tackle boxes and use mostly the baits we are confident with. As a possible video could you go through this years tournament schedule and give us your insight on each location? In fact this could be a series of videos. Thank you. God Bless.
If you have a friendly fire color bb cricket, I’ll take them. They definitely work in Florida as a Florida fisherman. I still flip a bb cricket myself. Just can’t find the good colors.
Question Matt: A lure I was really excited about when I first saw it was the Berkley Gilly. I'm like you, I've always been a Berkley fan and have been using Lightning rods for three or four decades. That said, I could never figure out how to most effectively rig the Gilly to make it perform correctly. The bluegill is our primary forage here, but I've never figured the Gilly out. How about you?
I rig the gilly with a wide gap swim bait hook that has the corkscrew style bait holder that is attached to the line tie. I throw a tungsten nail weight in the bottom and it swims upright like a natural fish even with the hook sitting on one side. I don’t remember which hook sizes I use for each but I make sure the hook doesn’t reach past the solid body portion and I haven’t missed a single strike yet.
I think writing off a lure from just a day or two of experience could be a little “knee jerk”, at least when the lure has a good reputation. There could be other factors at play, or just the conditions that particular day. I am saying this, but I have done the same thing myself. I once wrote off Jigs because I had a slow start with them, now it’s one of my main lures.
fishing is all about confidence and if i give a bait a full day or two thats a lot of time...especially when other baits are producing under the same conditions
The arashi curcuit board lipped crank baits was a huge let down for me. Never had a bite on them. Ive talked to others that have had same results as myself. The keitech swim jigs was a huge letdown as well.
Different areas/different locations, continental or not, we all have different fish species, bait species and different vertebrates that live in a variety of lakes and rivers around the world. One great bait here, may not work somewhere else; it could be within a short distance (100 miles away or 10s of thousands miles away). So, saying that, we all understand where you’re coming from. Cheers another very informative and $$ saving video. 👍 Maybe you could let your son create a mold and you/him could melt down some old plastics (those goby baits) to make “his own design” that out fishes a big brand name. He’d be proud of that!
I have had good success with the BB Cricket here in Southern California in highly pressured grass lakes. I find I can use a smaller weight to get through cover. I also have had some success on the Big EZ. I am not a tournament angler, but for fun fishing it is a great bite. I have to agree the horny toad maybe more universal. I am not a pro though and my paycheck is not riding on it.
Hey Matt…..I am a big Lucky Craft pointer fan. My favorite jerkbait, like you I was so excited when the live baits came out and like you I was so disappointed!! Like you said people will argue with choices but they need to remember it’s your opinion and if you don’t confidence in a bait then it really isn’t worth throwing 100% agreed!! Thanks as always for the video!!🍻🍻
I have an old bait that was a huge disappointment for me…remember the Tom Manns hard worm from the early to mid 80’s? Looked great in the water but I never caught anything on it ever. I finally lost it to a tree in the early 90’s. I only bought one.
@@MattStefanFishing I still catch fish on the Manns lil George. I have a lcouple from the early 80’s that I got as a teen ager. I hoard tho not as much as you….
How did you weight your wacky rig to win the lacrosse tournament? I think my comment was deleted but you mentioned in your lacrosse recap how you added weight directly into the worm to give it a natural fall while also allowing it to get to depth faster
Sorry but i think you’re sleeping on better baits… what’s interesting is how gambler is only popular in Florida. Almost feels like they’ve captured the Florida anglers and blinded them to all the better baits that the rest of the world uses 🤷🏻♂️
@@MattStefanFishingeven the guys at TB use the gambler big ez when they come here. They catch more fish for them too. No keitech. No fluke. Gambler big ez ftw!
I got clobbered throwing a big ez while buddy throwing a swim worm. The big ez never got bit. Orange Lake Florida. Ive lost complete confidence in that big goofy bait
You can send me all your Big Easy's also.... try this hook i used this on the Easy Swimmer also... VMC Drop Dead Weighted Hook in the 5/0 - 1/8oz size ... great hook ups
As for twitch bait, I think the Bill Lewis should have a knife hull. It looks rounded at bottom, meaning the shimmying down won't be as enhanced. Secondly, it needs clacking sound on the fall as in this other brand. The color selection is fire tho. I do think most twitch baits lack the attraction as in a jerkbait for whatever reason. Been using em long before it was a thing in America for bass species. That said, Finisher is better, but what beats that is the plastic version. The plastic can get you down to the bottom and it has undulating action. My point is the plastic can get you both bass and stripers as the Finisher tend to do better with bass. It's complicated to explain, but can be narrowed in that sense. Bass will be more inclined with speed to hit fast moving targets whereas that speed may be too fast for the stripers (in that vertical presentation). I mean, these clowns still call me a legend unto myself.
The Big EZ and the Pointer I couldn't agree more with and the other three I have never tried. I have several of those pointers in a box somewhere tucked away. I gave my buddy several Swamp Lord frogs I ordered. Personally I thought the hype was unwarranted. I am sure that is an unpopular opinion. And I probably just suck, so there's that I guess.
BB Cricket is the BOMB in matted grass situations. Zero drag and allows you to use a 3/4oz punch weight instead of 1 or 1 1/4. Don't sleep on that one bro. You have been warned🤘.
All lures don't work throughout the entire country. The situation dictates what and how to use it. I have tried Spike-it dip-n-glo near the estuary and it didn't get bit. A few miles inland it worked at the local reservoir. I have purchased some baits that YT creators raved about but didn't work for me so I give them to our local concession stand operator for new anglers he sets up.
I bought not just one but a bunch of Zman Quadzillas-Man was I disappointed. I am sure guys caught them on this bait. It looks good to me but did I ever get razzed by my buddies! Bad mojo for me
If you are ever traveling through Maryland, I need you to stop at my house. Maybe you can help clean out my garage of baits I bought over the years and never use. 😂
Those LC lives were junk. I caught fish on them but after 2 or 3 fish, they would kink. My biggest disappointments are the Megabass Dark Sleeper and everything made by Geecrack.
Storm chug bug, chappo, Scrounger, double buzzbait, live image lures, berkley leach, sluggo. And don’t forget the flying lure and helicopter! Yeah, I got grifted by Roland Martin too! And Megabass goby#junk
Oh man, I'll take every BB cricket and Big EZ you have off your hands! There are only 2 punching baits I use down here, Missile Baits D bomb and the BB cricket. I do a LOT of punching and have 2 dedicated rods, one for each. If you come to Florida when it's punching time you better have one or both of these ... 🚀🦖👽. BTW, because it does nothing is why it's so effective. As for the Big EZ, again, 2 dedicated rods, one weightless and one with a belly weighted hook. It's usually the first bait I pick up when I hit the water as it catches fish literally 12 months out of the year down year!
@ I suspect if you lived and fished full t8me in Florida like I do it would be different. The Bog EZ is literally the most important soft plastic in my boat. It's the only bait that I literally have a dedicated Plano box full of them . If I got out on the water and found out I was out of Big EZs I'd probably just head back to the dock ... lol
As a Florida fisherman the BB cricket is a staple here. Two of the three double digit bass I have caught were on a cricket in February so I think at least when your here you should give it another chance sir.
Seen Mikeyballz hammer tanks! I know that lol
Me too, big fish bait
BB Crickets are 💰. Bad take.
Yea you missed the boat on the bb lol wtf pay attention in Florida
I think they aren't up to snuff. It's not as quality of a bait as other plastics. He's correct.
No one really make these videos that I’ve seen. I love this content! Gear is expensive as it is and no angler likes to waste money. Excellent content Matt!
ill catch slack for doing the video
@ you put a disclaimer at the beginning and throughout. Let them be upset. Hope they watched the video till the end.
I watched the video immediately after seeing the BB Cricket in the thumbnail. 😂😂 I knew there would be an uproar about that one. I know it’s a florida tradition and go to bait down there but I’ve just never personally had the luck on it that others have had. It does get through the mats very well though. I enjoyed the video, I’d be glad to see videos like this from time to time.
Thanks for watching
Everytime i see his wall of baits, i want to grab a cart & go shopping 😂
come on over haha
I've been accumulating lures for 50 years. I started giving duplicate lures to the local high school team and my two sons this winter. You have more lures on your wall than my local bait shop. I decided to reduce my inventory to about 30 different baits with a variety of 5 colors. If I can't catch fish with about 150 lures to choose from, then I need to find a new hobby. Thank you for another good video. Good luck at Rayburn.
Thanks for sharing, I’m always trying to reduce my stuff too!
Love this, and keep it going. It’s refreshing and honest to hear that some lures suck. Tired of watching all the “must have lure” videos 😂. Thank you, Matt!
I’m glad you enjoy it!
This topic reminds me of what Zell Roland told me. I'll never forget him saying 90% of the lures are for the fisherman...only 10% catch the fish. 3 magic letters (NEW) have put more lures in my tackle box than have put fish in the boat. Thanks Matt for helping me put more fish in the boat!
Zell Roland is a legend.
You always put on genuine disclaimers, I like that.
Maybe you done it, but that BB cricket looks like it would be a good ned bait. Perhaps when it's propper cold and the fish seen stickbaits all day long. :)
We shall see
I have a bunch of crickets and crawdaddys. My favorite color is blue shadow. I pitch them with lighter weights on the California Delta with success, but I'm not sure that I would have one tied on during a tournament. John Crews won a Delta tournament in the 80s using a BB cricket.
In the 80’s there weren’t many good options back then….so many better options now
As a previous Florida resident now in Wi, I like have caught tons of bass on the bb cricket and big ones! Gambler big ez has won me several tournaments down there and giants on the big O. Up here I’ve caught big smallies in em as well as largies. Don’t count the big ez out either. But with so many bait options now a days it’s sometimes hard to pick
Thanks for watching
Dude the BB cricket is my absolute go-to. Specially set up one way, #50 braind/3-0 hook/ and a 1oz weight. The profile/line/weight combination gets through THICK stuff significantly better than you would think I also believe the smaller profile gets more bites. If I ever HAVE to use a bigger weight I switch completely to a pitboss and bigger line. I live on Santee Cooper for reference
Thanks for watching
Florida boys mount up! He dissed our Big Ez! 😂
hahaha
@@NoFro-TL i use the big ez on a homemade chatterbait the big one. Way too big but it works for big ones
Florida Man says, "You mess with the cricket or easy and there's going be trouble!"
Matt Stefan You tube Winner 2024 ! for Golden Hook Awards !!
so i heard haha
The great lakes juvy craw. I've heard of so many people catching smallies like crazy on them. I have not. The one day I switched from that to a similar size bottom bait fished in a similar manner and started catching
Thanks for sharing
Having a big ez on here is INSANE.
So many better baits
@ for buzzing grass in Florida?
I fish the BB Cricket in northern Wisconsin and have had success on them. There is definitely A time and place for them but I typically fish other baits that have more action until I find the fish aren't wanting the action. I'm over in the fox valley and will come pick up the ones you don't want.
Thanks for sharing I’ve already got someone I’m donating to
Thanks Matt. Don't remember the brand but years ago bought some flipping jigs with a wire that had a spinnerbait blade attached. Never got a bite that I recall. The Live Pointer didn't work for me either. 👍👍👍
thanks for sharing
Yeah I've never had much luck with them either.
Solid explanations. All made sense to me. Glad you are willing to put yourself out there amid the possible criticism. I respect honesty and transparency.
Thanks for watching!
The gambler big EZ worked well for me in the northeast. I do like that swimbait. That being said though I find myself using the xzone swammer and RI dippers more. ….. baits that didn’t work for me, googan revolver, damiki armor shads, and the raid battle hog.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hey Matt, I have a ton of experience with Big Ez swimbaits. They are great baits. After losing many fish with them and trying a bunch of hooks, I have found the best hooks to be the Trokar Mag Swimbait hooks. Tk160. The 5/0 for the 4.25 Big Ez and the 5/0 or 7/0 for the original Big Ez. These hooks are worth the price.
thanks for sharing
Thanks man. It is what it is. Let em get mad. Love powerbait and I like keitech easy shiner on a dirty guppy head. Still the best finesse jig head I can find.
thanks for watching!
Agree 100% with you on live pointer series from JB to the trap. Also add the Razor minnow to the list, the day on the lake article moved some dead inventory that month 😁
I've won a lot of money on Razor minnows .
thanks for sharing
I’m in Florida and I know a lot of guys, especially Mikey Balzz love a BB cricket. I’ve never caught a fish on one. I seem to do better with a beaver style bait.
Big EZ is a stable in my arsenal. Get Gamblers 7/0 weighted hook use a smaller twist lock. You burn through more baits but it rips out of the nose and gives you better hook ups.
Sadly there is no more grass on Okeechobee to throw it over
They are killing big O
They are finally making an effort to revive it. Scott Martin’s group Anglers for Lake Okeechobee and others have pushed to get the water down to allow grass to grow
I only started fishing there in 2021 and it’s criminal what they have done since then
I have the same problem. I see alot of tackle that really looks good in theory, then in the water just junk. Unfortunately so many companies do that. Put out something that really looks good in the package, but then in the water just don't cut it. I too have alot of tackle that sits and collects dust as well. Unfortunately.
got to sell the angler first
Yes, I agree with you. The reaction innovations skinny dipper is a great Bait.
Yep
BB Cricket is an unbelievable punching bait. Very situational. It will get bit in cold front situations or when there is a ton of pressure on the lake and everyone else is punching a beaver style bait.
stick with what you have confidence in...those are the conditions have id so many other baits out shine it
JIGS *drops the mic, i love the the design but man... maybe because my lake is 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 on the bottom, and on the rocky rivers i got that thing stuck even in the water itself.
bummer
Brings to mind a bait that used to perplex me. That is a Rat-L-Trap. I remember a tournament I fished where I caught most of my limit with a red one. But I lost as many or more as I landed. They picked it up and then used the weight of the bait on the split ring attached hooks to throw it. It was frustrating. It catches fish but it loses a lot also.
bummer
Matt, have you tried removing the blade and just trying the jig with the funnel and seeing what it would do? All I know is last year my smallest smallmouth on a chatterbait was bigger than any previous year with over a decade of not even getting a fish on 1 and now it's one of my confidence baits. Thanks for doing this stuff.
i have not
Matt, I have had good success with the Cricket fished on a C-rig, post spawn period. The past two years have not been good for a C-rig on my lakes. That's bass fishing. I have not fished the Cricket any other way. NE KS, NW MO area
Thanks for the tip!
The answer is YES! The BB Cricket and Easy are still major players in Florida! I've personally caught many giants on both these baits.
That’s wild to me… i feel like there are a bunch of better options 🤷🏻♂️
I would like to shorten up the bb and put it on a ned. A little bit of trimmming can go a long way.
Maybe
I love the Big EZ, but I can see the issue with hookups for sure. A swimmin’ worm is a good alternative that I like.
I’d rather use the swimming worm for sure.
The 6th Sense Axis. I've caught fish on the 13 Fishing Jabber Jaw. The Axis on the other hand always blows out at anything over a turtles speed retrieve.
Haven’t Used it but heard lots of similar opinions
I have over a hundred jabberjaws since they discontinued them. I bought 1 axis and threw it away.
Would you please explain what some of the hard baits that are hanging on the shelf over your left shoulder?
most are custom glide baits
The Gambler Big E-Z, rig it just like a swim worm and go to work with it. In and around grass lines 👍
Except the swim worm has a much better hookup percentage
THANKS FOR YOUR HONESTY
Anytime!
Totally agree with that lucky craft I bought a handful when they came out because I love the pointer but that bait was junk.
Thanks!
With that vibrating jig can you trim the collar down to make it work better...maybe leave a lip on the bottom or small lips on each side something like that
worth a shot because its not good
Big Ez catches giants but most people won't fish it fast enough so it gurgles on top. Try the Berkley 7/0 swimbait hook with a big owner twist lock and your hook ups should increase, 65 lb braid and don't fear the heavy braid they will eat it in crystal clear water down here in Florida
That’s the setup i use…
All gambler lures kill it in south FL. For whatever reason they just work. Big ez on 5/0 weighted swim bait hook, really helped my hook up ratio. One bait people overlook is the strike king rage tail craw in the blue bug color. Texas rigged on a 1/8oz. I live in okeechobee
thanks for sharing
Worst junk I ever tied on was a lipless crankbait that I bought in East Texas back in the mid-90's. I dont remember the maker of it but I think it was called a Whistling Dixie. It looked like a RatLTrap but it had two little channels cut in the nose that was suppose to funnel the water through the nose and out the belly causing a whistling sound. Think I bought 3 of them and all 3 would not even stay upright. They kept rolling from one side to the other and never could get that classic lipless crankbait vibration going even for a short distance.
Haha I’ll check it out
I fish 99% for speckle trout in louisiana. Its either 3"-4" swimbait, a soft jerkbait, hard jerkbait or twitchbait. 1/4" -3/8" jighead. If you find the trout. They eat. I have 2 hard plastic boxes for all my baits pretty simple.
thanks for sharing
The cone on the Gladiator is to keep it from chewing on the skirt... 😅
Haha
Great video boss! Megabass sleeper craw is junk for me, too big. The recent Great Lakes finesse craw a no go as of now haven’t had a bite. The craw or the craw tube and put time in the three rivers with them. It’s dink fest here they should eat it. Many others also
I haven’t tried it yet
A fail for me was anything from Snag Proof that wasn’t a frog. Last thing I got from them was the flipping jigs that used the double frog hook and had double weed guards.
they have some sketchy stuff
I did well when I was a kid with the snagproof minno.
Load up a box and send it to Becker 😊
If i do that he’ll send be double the junk back haha
I throw the cricket here in central Florida as a trailer on a swim jig and always catch. Don’t think you gave it enough of a chance.
i gave it a bunch of time and have had so many more baits outproduce it.
Mikey Ballz kills with that BB Cricket punching. We all have our favorites. I get it. I had one good day on the Live LC pointer. I bought 2.
Yep and he’s sponsored by them and he’ll probably make another video soon fishing it because I did this video. I’d like to know if he fishes them in tournaments that’s how you know what works. It’s just my opinion and i feel like there are better options
There should be some kind of jackpot tournament with anglers using only lures from your junk bin. That would be fun.
I like the idea!
I like the idea!
I’m surprised by the ez swimmer pick. Have you thrown it on a jig head? Either that or on a swim jig are the two best ways to throw it
I agree that it has a harder hookup when it’s Texas rigged, but that is an issue for a lot of paddle tail swimbaits.
I’m also surprised you didn’t mention that the swim worm wasn’t a staple for you in its stead.
so many better baits IMO
Matt: Any honest fisherman will tell you they have a number of lures that can catch Suckers (the purchaser) but don’t catch fish. I just went through mine. Opps! They all look good at the retailers. That’s why we have so many tackle boxes and use mostly the baits we are confident with. As a possible video could you go through this years tournament schedule and give us your insight on each location? In fact this could be a series of videos. Thank you. God Bless.
I hear you. Confidence is key.
I ordered a few packs of the big EZ and most of the tails was bent over wasn’t to happy
that stinks
I love gambler lures, but you gotta get the boiling water ready every time you're about to get a pack haha
If you have a friendly fire color bb cricket, I’ll take them. They definitely work in Florida as a Florida fisherman. I still flip a bb cricket myself. Just can’t find the good colors.
Shhhhh! Don't let that out!!!
Thanks for watching
In all seriousness, I’d definitely want those bb crickets
The Big EZ is best when kept above the mats with a texsposed EWG
and thats when i have terrible hookup percentage
It’s always soft plastics for me that I regret buying. The staples work well and there’s often a reason they sell the best!
I'm with you, some baits are just better than others.
I wanted to buy a Core Tackle Jighead, but I kept wondering what am I gonna use them for when I am just a shore fisherman. Lol.
Haha your missing out
Question Matt: A lure I was really excited about when I first saw it was the Berkley Gilly. I'm like you, I've always been a
Berkley fan and have been using Lightning rods for three or four decades. That said, I could never figure out how to most effectively rig the Gilly to make it perform correctly. The bluegill is our primary forage here, but I've never figured the Gilly out. How about you?
I rig the gilly with a wide gap swim bait hook that has the corkscrew style bait holder that is attached to the line tie. I throw a tungsten nail weight in the bottom and it swims upright like a natural fish even with the hook sitting on one side. I don’t remember which hook sizes I use for each but I make sure the hook doesn’t reach past the solid body portion and I haven’t missed a single strike yet.
@@richardbossman9875 Thanks Matthew!
gilly is a fun bait to use but its not a tournament bait for me.
Great video Matt good tips thanks bud
No problem 👍
The BB cricket is hard to keep on a flipping hook ! Got a few packs on my peg board that just take up space !! 😮😮
so many better options IMO
I think writing off a lure from just a day or two of experience could be a little “knee jerk”, at least when the lure has a good reputation. There could be other factors at play, or just the conditions that particular day. I am saying this, but I have done the same thing myself. I once wrote off Jigs because I had a slow start with them, now it’s one of my main lures.
fishing is all about confidence and if i give a bait a full day or two thats a lot of time...especially when other baits are producing under the same conditions
Whatever new baits you throw results better come fairly quick otherwise confidents wains fast! It’s the same for all of us!
facts!
The arashi curcuit board lipped crank baits was a huge let down for me. Never had a bite on them. Ive talked to others that have had same results as myself. The keitech swim jigs was a huge letdown as well.
The Arashi series was a bummer
Different areas/different locations, continental or not, we all have different fish species, bait species and different vertebrates that live in a variety of lakes and rivers around the world. One great bait here, may not work somewhere else; it could be within a short distance (100 miles away or 10s of thousands miles away). So, saying that, we all understand where you’re coming from. Cheers another very informative and $$ saving video. 👍
Maybe you could let your son create a mold and you/him could melt down some old plastics (those goby baits) to make “his own design” that out fishes a big brand name. He’d be proud of that!
agreed! just my opinons
Hey Matt! Congrats on winning the Golden Hook Award! Well done!!
haha thanks!
Love lucky craft but I hate that LC bait all three I had bent just a miss by LC.Personally a menace grub replaces the cricket I have no need for it.
menace grub and a speed craw are WAY better than the cricket
Excellent thanks 🎉
glad you enjoyed it!
I have had good success with the BB Cricket here in Southern California in highly pressured grass lakes. I find I can use a smaller weight to get through cover. I also have had some success on the Big EZ. I am not a tournament angler, but for fun fishing it is a great bite. I have to agree the horny toad maybe more universal. I am not a pro though and my paycheck is not riding on it.
Stick with what you enjoy!
Thanks for the heads up Matt.
you bet!
Hey Matt…..I am a big Lucky Craft pointer fan. My favorite jerkbait, like you I was so excited when the live baits came out and like you I was so disappointed!! Like you said people will argue with choices but they need to remember it’s your opinion and if you don’t confidence in a bait then it really isn’t worth throwing 100% agreed!! Thanks as always for the video!!🍻🍻
agreed! one mans bad fishing lure is anothers favorite....just my opinion
matt will you be using the leftover plastics to pour some Core Tackle plastics? Or am I too early on it
Haha 🤫
I have an old bait that was a huge disappointment for me…remember the Tom Manns hard worm from the early to mid 80’s? Looked great in the water but I never caught anything on it ever. I finally lost it to a tree in the early 90’s. I only bought one.
i did not have good luck with those either
@@MattStefanFishing I still catch fish on the Manns lil George. I have a lcouple from the early 80’s that I got as a teen ager. I hoard tho not as much as you….
I have all these baits except the vibrating jig and had the exact same experiences as you described, they’re all in my junk bin 😆
glad im not the only one
How did you weight your wacky rig to win the lacrosse tournament? I think my comment was deleted but you mentioned in your lacrosse recap how you added weight directly into the worm to give it a natural fall while also allowing it to get to depth faster
i caught a few of my keeprs inthat event sliding a small nail weight into the middle of the worm
The bb cricket and the big ez....ouch. thats my 2 confidence baits here in Florida lol
Sorry but i think you’re sleeping on better baits… what’s interesting is how gambler is only popular in Florida. Almost feels like they’ve captured the Florida anglers and blinded them to all the better baits that the rest of the world uses 🤷🏻♂️
@@MattStefanFishingeven the guys at TB use the gambler big ez when they come here. They catch more fish for them too. No keitech. No fluke. Gambler big ez ftw!
Great to know Thank You
You bet
The live pointer is my favorite jerkbait, I love it, if you want them out of your junk bin I’d like to grab them from you
Thanks for sharing
@@MattStefanFishing so that’s a no? Lol
If we wanna buy some, how can we go about that?
Link is in the video description
I wouldn't give up on that BBcrickett, Mickeyballz uses them on Guntersville also to punch the grass and catches them.
there are soooo may better options
Thanks Matt , So many baits to try,
I know right!
Matt now if you're offering to give away some of those BB crickets send them my way. I'll put them in my ned rig arsenal. That's perfect size!
Already gave them away
I got clobbered throwing a big ez while buddy throwing a swim worm. The big ez never got bit. Orange Lake Florida. Ive lost complete confidence in that big goofy bait
It’s not good
You can send me all your Big Easy's also.... try this hook i used this on the Easy Swimmer also... VMC Drop Dead Weighted Hook in the 5/0 - 1/8oz size ... great hook ups
haha
Have you tried the big easy with your TUSH hooks Matt?
i have not
Finally, a video that saves me money. My wife is so happy!
haha
As for twitch bait, I think the Bill Lewis should have a knife hull. It looks rounded at bottom, meaning the shimmying down won't be as enhanced. Secondly, it needs clacking sound on the fall as in this other brand. The color selection is fire tho. I do think most twitch baits lack the attraction as in a jerkbait for whatever reason. Been using em long before it was a thing in America for bass species. That said, Finisher is better, but what beats that is the plastic version. The plastic can get you down to the bottom and it has undulating action. My point is the plastic can get you both bass and stripers as the Finisher tend to do better with bass. It's complicated to explain, but can be narrowed in that sense. Bass will be more inclined with speed to hit fast moving targets whereas that speed may be too fast for the stripers (in that vertical presentation). I mean, these clowns still call me a legend unto myself.
Thanks for sharing
I sell my junkers on FB market place. I was surprised how quickly they sold. Granted they were cheap but I was never gonna use them.
good idea!
Every single jerk bait is like this for me. I have never caught anything on one. This year, I plan to fix that once and for all, but we shall see.
Thanks for sharing
The Big EZ and the Pointer I couldn't agree more with and the other three I have never tried. I have several of those pointers in a box somewhere tucked away.
I gave my buddy several Swamp Lord frogs I ordered. Personally I thought the hype was unwarranted. I am sure that is an unpopular opinion. And I probably just suck, so there's that I guess.
We are all entitled to our opinions
BB Cricket is the BOMB in matted grass situations. Zero drag and allows you to use a 3/4oz punch weight instead of 1 or 1 1/4. Don't sleep on that one bro. You have been warned🤘.
Haha stick with what works for you but I’d say your missing out on a lot of fish catches by using it…sooooo many better punching baits
These are the baits some companies put into their mystery tackle box subscriptions. 😂😂
🤷🏻♂️
All lures don't work throughout the entire country. The situation dictates what and how to use it. I have tried Spike-it dip-n-glo near the estuary and it didn't get bit. A few miles inland it worked at the local reservoir. I have purchased some baits that YT creators raved about but didn't work for me so I give them to our local concession stand operator for new anglers he sets up.
You are right about that. Every lake is different.
By the way, love your new 4 X 4 Wacky Rig ad!!
its such a good hook
I bought not just one but a bunch of Zman Quadzillas-Man was I disappointed. I am sure guys caught them on this bait. It looks good to me but did I ever get razzed by my buddies! Bad mojo for me
Bummer
Helicopter lure bring back any memories?
Or the Banjo Minnow
helicopter did not perform for me either
If you are ever traveling through Maryland, I need you to stop at my house. Maybe you can help clean out my garage of baits I bought over the years and never use. 😂
Haha that would be a lot of fun!
@MattStefanFishing bring lots of money. 😆 🤣
Those LC lives were junk. I caught fish on them but after 2 or 3 fish, they would kink. My biggest disappointments are the Megabass Dark Sleeper and everything made by Geecrack.
Thanks for sharing
The chatterbait is easily my #1
lots of tournaments won on chatterbaits
Storm chug bug, chappo, Scrounger, double buzzbait, live image lures, berkley leach, sluggo. And don’t forget the flying lure and helicopter! Yeah, I got grifted by Roland Martin too! And Megabass goby#junk
thanks for sharing...i love the old chug bug haha
Roland Martin double buzzers on the upper Mississippi for giant smallies...WINNING!, must haves
Oh man, I'll take every BB cricket and Big EZ you have off your hands! There are only 2 punching baits I use down here, Missile Baits D bomb and the BB cricket. I do a LOT of punching and have 2 dedicated rods, one for each. If you come to Florida when it's punching time you better have one or both of these ... 🚀🦖👽. BTW, because it does nothing is why it's so effective. As for the Big EZ, again, 2 dedicated rods, one weightless and one with a belly weighted hook. It's usually the first bait I pick up when I hit the water as it catches fish literally 12 months out of the year down year!
Yeah, that segmented bait looked great but is trash ...
man i have been so much more productive with other baits
@ I suspect if you lived and fished full t8me in Florida like I do it would be different. The Bog EZ is literally the most important soft plastic in my boat. It's the only bait that I literally have a dedicated Plano box full of them . If I got out on the water and found out I was out of Big EZs I'd probably just head back to the dock ... lol